Chapter 19 The Captain's Daughter (1)

Cherish your clothes early, Cherish your reputation while you are young. proverb Chapter 1 Sergeant of the Guards He joined the Guards and will be a captain tomorrow. Don't do that, make him a soldier and go to war. As the saying goes: Tell him to suffer first before watching... ………………………………………… But who is his father? Knishning ① My father, Andrei Petrovich Grinyov, served as a young man under Count Minikh, became a lieutenant colonel, and was discharged in 17 XX.From then on he lived on his own estate in Simbirsk and married Avdotya Vasilyevna I, the daughter of a poor local nobleman.We have nine brothers and sisters.They die very young.

①Kenishin (1742-1791), Russian poet, the inscription here is quoted from his comedy "The Blowhard". ② Minih, the Russian Marshal, commanded the war against Turkey from 1735 to 1739. When I was still in my mother's womb, I registered as a sergeant in the Semyonov regiment at an early age.This matter is thanks to the care of my relatives, the Major of the Guards, Duke E. If my mother unfortunately gave birth to a girl, then my father should declare that the unborn sergeant is dead, and the matter will fall through. .Before I graduated from school, I was considered a long leave of service in the military.At that time, our way of getting karma was different from what it is now. From the age of five, I was handed over to the groom Saweirich. Because he didn't drink, he kindly let him be my discipliner.Under his supervision, I learned to read Russian characters at the age of twelve, and I was able to recognize dogs very well.At this time my father hired me a French teacher, M. Poppler.

The man had been ordered from Moscow, along with a year's supply of olive oil and wine.Saverich was not pleased that he came. "Thank goodness!" Sawerich murmured to himself, "it looks like the kid can wash, comb his hair, and eat. Why waste money to hire a gringo, it seems that his own people are useless! " Poppler was a barber in his own country, then he went to Prussia as a soldier, and then to Russia as a teacher, although he didn't know the meaning of the word "teacher".He's a good boy, but too flirtatious.His main problem is that he has too much affection for women.He was full of tenderness and need to be vented, so he was beaten now and then, and he moaned all day and all night when he was beaten.Besides, he was not, according to him, the enemy of the bottle, and, according to the Russians, he liked to drink a few cups.However, seeing that wine is only served at lunch in our house, and only one glass, and the servant sometimes forgets this gentleman when sifting the wine, so my Poppler quickly became addicted to Russian medicinal wine, and even felt its taste. Infinity, stronger than his own country's wine, privately thought it could clear the spleen and strengthen the stomach.In this way, my husband and I immediately got along well.Although, according to the contract, he was supposed to teach me French, German, and various sciences, he thought it would be better for him to babble some Russian in advance, and after that I went our separate ways with him.We were really at home.I don't care for any other good teacher.But fate soon tore us apart for the following reasons:

①The original text is French. One day the laundry maid Balashika, a plump, pockmarked girl, together with the milkmaid and the one-eyed Akulka, fell on their knees before my mother for no apparent reason, and weeping and accusing the gentleman of being weak-willed, because He took advantage of the girls' ignorance to seduce them.When my mother heard it, it was not bad!She told her father.Father has always been happy to do things.He immediately sent for the French rascal.The servant reported that the master is giving me a lesson.Dad rushed into my room.At this time Mr. Poppler was sleeping on the bed, wandering in dreamland.And I'm going about my business.I should explain that a large map was ordered from Moscow for me earlier.It's useless to hang on the wall, it's long and wide and it's made of good paper, and I've had my eye on it for a long time.I decided to use it to make a kite. Now that my husband is asleep, I started to do it.I was gluing a bark tail on the Cape of Good Hope when my father came into the room.When my father saw me doing my geography homework, he reached out and grabbed my ear, then rushed to Poppler, woke him up very rudely, and then yelled at him like a cannonball.Popler panicked and tried to get up, but couldn't, because the unfortunate Frenchman was crippled and paralyzed.If you don't do it, you won't stop.His father grabbed him by the collar, dragged him out of the bed, and pushed him out of the door. This day he was kicked out of the door.This made Saverich happy.

And so my education came to an end. I became a young boy with nothing to do, chasing pigeons, playing back jumping, and hanging out with the servants' children all day long.Before I knew it, I was sixteen years old. At this time my fate changed. One day in the autumn, my mother was cooking candied fruit in the living room, and I swallowed and licked my tongue, staring at the boiling foam in the pot.At the window my father reads his Hajj Almanac, which he subscribes to every year.This book has always had a huge influence on him.He never gets tired of reading, and every time he reads it, he must be full of emotions, and every time he reads it, he must lose his temper.My mother knew his temperament and hobbies, and always tried to hide the unfortunate book so that he could not find it as much as possible. Therefore, the "Almanac of the Holy Pilgrimage" sometimes did not appear in front of my father for several months.However, once he found the book, he would sit there for hours, refusing to let it go.On this day, my father happened to be reading "The Almanac of the Holy Dynasty" again. He shrugged his shoulders and muttered softly: "He actually became a lieutenant general in the army!... In our company, he was only a sergeant in the past! . . . . . . two Orders of Russia! . . . not so long ago we were .

Suddenly he turned to his mother and said: "Avdotya Vasilyevna! Petrusha is in his teens this year? " "Seventeen years old," replied the mother; "Aunt Nastasya Gerasimovna went blind in one eye the year Peter was born, and then..." "Come!" interrupted her father, "it's time to send him to work! He has done enough to dig into the girl's room and dig out the pigeon coop. " At the thought of saying goodbye to me, my mother was so startled that she dropped the spoon into the pot, and tears trickled down her face.Contrary to her, I am beyond description happy.When I think of military service, I confuse it with freedom, and that is the happy life in Petersburg.I imagined myself an officer in the Guards, and that, I thought, was the pinnacle of human happiness.

My father never liked to change his plans, and he always acted vigorously and resolutely.The day of my departure is fixed.The day before we left, my father said that he wanted to write a letter for me to bring to my future officer. He asked for a pen and paper. "Andrey Petrovitch!" said the mother, "don't forget to give my regards to the prince; just say that I entrust him with the care of Petrusha." "Nonsense!" replied the father, frowning. "Why should I write to the Duke?" "Didn't you just say that you were going to write to Petrusha's governor?"

"Oh! So what?" "Petrusha's chief is a duke, and Petrusha is enrolled in the Semyonov regiment!" "Registered! Registered, what does it matter to me? Anyway, Petrusha is not going to Petersburg. What can he learn when he enlists in Petersburg? He only spends money and learns to be a vagabond! That's no good! Let him go to the ranks, do hard work, smell gunpowder, be a private, don't play around. What's the use of being registered in the Guards! Where is his ID card?Go find it! " Mother found my ID card, which was in her box with my christening undershirt, and handed it to my father with trembling hands.My father read it carefully, put the ID card on the table, and began to write a letter.

I was troubled by the unknown situation: where should I be sent instead of Petersburg?My eyes were fixed on the tip of my father's pen, but it moved too slowly.When he finally finished writing, he put the ID card and the letter together in an envelope and sealed it, took off his glasses, called me over, and said: "You give this letter to Andrey Karlovich P. He is mine." Old colleagues and old friends. You go to Orenburg to serve under him." With that, all my bright hopes were shattered!The joyous life of Petersburg is gone, and the dullness of a desolate backwoods awaits me.Military service, which a minute ago was thought of with enthusiasm, now seems to me like hell.However, it is useless to fight.Next morning a sleigh was driven up to the steps; into the trunk, the pantry box with the tea service in it, the packets of pies and bonbons, the last tokens of domestic doting.My parents bless me.My father said to me, "Farewell, Peter! Do your duty to the man to whom you have sworn an oath. Listen to your magistrate, do not please him. Don't solicit errands, and don't shirk your work. Remember the old saying: Cherish your clothes while you are young, and protect your name while you are young." My mother was in tears, telling me to take care of my health, and repeatedly asked Savileich to take good care of the child.They dressed me in a rabbit fur jacket and a fox fur coat.I got into the sleigh, and I set out with Saverich, and I burst into tears.

That night we arrived at Simbirsk, where we were to stay all day and night, in order to buy some necessities, which Saverich had been instructed to do in advance.I stay in the hostel.Saverich has been running the store since early in the morning.I looked at the dirty alleys outside the window, feeling so bored that I wandered around in each room of the hotel.Stepping into the billiard room, I met a tall gentleman, about thirty-five years of age, with a black mustache, in a toga, with a pool cue in his hand, and a pipe in his mouth.He is playing with the pool marker.When the scorekeeper wins, he drinks a glass of schnapps; when he loses, he is supposed to crawl across the table on all fours.I watch them play.The longer they played, the more they scrambled and made more fools, until the scorer collapsed under the table and couldn't move.That gentleman condescendingly uttered a few incantations that he recited during the burial, so powerful!Then he suggested that I also play a few games with him.I declined by saying no, which probably surprised him.He looked me up and down disapprovingly, but we talked anyway.I learned that his name was Ivan Ivanovich Zorin, he was a captain of the hussar regiment, and he was on a business trip to Simbirsk for the conscription, and he lived in this hotel.Zorin invited me to lunch, and I would eat whatever I had, according to the way soldiers eat.I happily agreed.We sit down at the table.Zorin drank a lot and toasted me too.He enlightened and said that we should learn the military style, and he also told me many anecdotes and anecdotes in the army, which made me laugh and hurt my stomach.After dinner, we became good friends.He immediately offered to teach me how to play pool.

"It's a must-have thing for us military brothers!" he said. "For example, on the way to the army, you come to a small place-what do you do? You can't keep beating jews! No!" If there is a way, you can go into the hotel and play billiards; if you want to play, you must first learn it!" I was completely convinced, so I concentrated on learning it.Zorin praised me loudly and marveled at my rapid progress.After practicing for a few rounds, he proposed to play with me for money, one copper coin each time, the purpose is not to win or lose, but not to make empty bets, listen to his tone, it is the most useless bad habit.To gamble, I agree.Zuolin ordered fruit wine to be brought, and advised me to try a few sips, and repeatedly advised me to learn the military style; and without fruit wine, the military style is worth a lot!I listened to him.At this time, we continue to gamble.I picked up the bottle and sipped it one by one. The more I drank, the more courageous I became.The balls I hit fly off the table from time to time.I lost my temper and scolded the scorekeeper, God knows how he kept it.My stakes kept getting bigger and bigger, and in a word, I acted like a wild child out of control.Time passed unconsciously.Zorin looked at his watch, put down his pool cue, and told me I had lost a hundred rubles.This made me a little embarrassed.My money is on Saverich.I beg his pardon.Zorin interrupted me and said: "Don't worry! Please don't worry. I can wait, let's go to Arlene Rushika now!" What can I say?This night, just like the morning, I also let go and spent it in a daze.We had dinner at Miss Arlene Rushika's.Zorin kept sifting wine for me, and repeatedly enlightened me, saying that I should learn the military style.When I got up after eating, I almost couldn't stand still.Zorin took me back to the hotel in the middle of the night. Saverich greeted us on the steps with a sigh as he saw the impressive results of my eagerness to learn the military ways. "What's the matter with you, sir?" he said pitifully. "Where did you drink it? My God! It's a crime. It's never happened before the womb!" "Shut up! Old man!" I said with a slippery tongue, "Looks like you're drunk, go to bed;... wait for me to lie down." When I woke up the next day, I had a headache and vaguely remembered what happened yesterday.Saverich interrupted my train of thought by bringing in a cup of tea. "It's too early! Pyotr Andreitch!" he said to me, shaking his head. "You're too early to be a libertine! Look who you look like. Neither your father nor your grandfather was a drunk. All my life, I have never drank anything but kvass. Who is to blame for this? Only the Frenchman who got paid a thousand dollars. From time to time he sneaks up to Anjibevna and says: Madan! Hot horse Ignore it, Vodka.①I'll give you a hard time this time! There's nothing to say, that's what he taught me! You son of a bitch! It shouldn't have hired a cultist as a teacher, as if the master's family is useless. " ① Transliteration of French "Madam! Please give me Vodka". I feel ashamed.I turned to him and said, "Go, Saverich! I don't want tea." But once Saverich starts preaching, you can't stop him. "Look, Pyotr Andreich! What's the end of your debauchery! Headache, dizziness, loss of appetite. He's addicted to alcohol, and he can't do anything... Just drink Sour King with honey. Melon water solution bar! It’s better to drink half a glass of medicinal wine. Do you want it?” At this time, a child came into the room and handed me a note written by Zorin.I unfolded and saw the following sentences: Dear Pyotr Andreich!Please bring me the hundred rubles that I lost yesterday to my servant.I need money badly. Always at your service: Ivan Zorin There is no way.Pretending to be indifferent, I turned to Savrich, who was in charge of my money, clothing, and other affairs, and ordered him to pay the boy a hundred rubles. "What?" asked Saverich, startled. "I owe him money," I replied, as nonchalantly as possible. "Pay money?" retorted Saverich, growing more and more uneasy, "but when, sir, did you owe him money? Something's not quite right, sir! Do as you please, I don't give money." I thought about it, at this juncture, if I don't subdue this stubborn old man, it will be difficult to get rid of his restraint in the future.I glared at him and said, "I am your master and you are my slave. The money is mine. I lost the money because I was willing to lose. I advise you not to be smart and do what you are told." !" Hearing my words, Saverich was taken aback, clapped his hands together, and froze. "Why are you standing there in a daze?" I cried angrily. Saverich cried. "My little master Pyotr Andreitch!" he murmured, tremblingly, "don't torture me to death. My good man! Listen to me, old man! Write to that man Robber, say you're playing with him, you don't have that much money at all. One hundred rubles! God, don't do anything wrong! Tell him your parents forbid gambling. Unless you bet on walnuts..." "Stop talking nonsense!" I interrupted him harshly, "Bring me the money, or watch me choke you and kick you out!" Saverich gave me a look and was so heartbroken that I had to settle my debt.I privately pity the old man.But if I want to get rid of the restraints, I have to show him the posture, because I am not a child anymore.The money was paid to Zorin.Saverich hastened to get me out of this wretched inn.He informed me that the horses were ready.My conscience was disturbed, and I silently repented that I left Simbirsk without saying goodbye to my mentor, and without thinking about meeting him again in the future. Chapter 2 Wizard Foreign land!far away land, I don't recognize this place! It's not that I'm here on my own, Not my good horse to carry me to play, Call me young hero, Come to this exotic place, It is full of blood, it is the courage of the whole body, It is a craving for drinking and pleasure. old folk song My mood on the journey was not very pleasant.The money I lost was considerable in terms of current value.I could not but admit in private that I had acted foolishly in the Simbirsk hotel, and that I felt sorry for Saverich.All this makes me sad.The old man sat on the driving platform sullenly, with his back turned to me, silent, only coughing dryly from time to time.I really want to make peace with him, but I don't know how to say it.Finally I said to him, "Hey! Hey! Saverich, come on, let's make peace! I was wrong, I admit it, I was wrong. Yesterday I messed around and bullied you again. I promise I will be smarter Come on, I promise to listen to you. Well, don't be angry, let's make it up!" "Alas! my little master Pyotr Andreitch!" he replied, with a deep sigh, "angry? I am angry with myself, and it is all my fault. How could I have left you alone in the inn?" What should I do? What a crime, I was confused for a moment: I actually wanted to stop by to see the wife of the church deacon, and meet my godfather. How could I know that I went to see my godfather, and ended up in trouble. More than just trouble!... How could I Have the face to see the old lady! If they know that the son is drinking and gambling, what will they say?" To appease poor Saverich, I swore to him that I would never spend a dime without his consent.Gradually he felt relieved, though he still shook his head now and then, muttering alone: ​​"One hundred rubles! It's not easy!" My destination is almost here.Looking around, there are vast and desolate grasslands all around, with hills and ravines encountered from time to time.Snow covered the ground.The sun was setting.The sledge was gliding along a path, or rather, it was not a road, but a track left by a peasant's sledge.Suddenly, the coachman looked at the sky, finally took off his hat, turned to me and said: "Master! Do you want to turn around and rush back?" "What are you doing?" "The weather is unreliable, and it's a little windy. Look! Bubble snow blowing." "Then what's so scary?" "Look what's over there?" (The coachman points to the east with his whip) "I saw nothing but this white field and clear sky." "Look! There's a cloud in the sky." I really saw a small white cloud at the end of the sky. At first glance, I thought it was a small hill.The driver explained that the cloud was a harbinger of a blizzard. I've heard of the local blizzard, and know it can bury a wagon when it comes.Saverich agreed with the coachman, and also said that it would be better to turn back as soon as possible.However, I don't think it's too windy.I hoped to get to the next stop as soon as possible, so I gave orders to hurry away. The coachman hastened his horse, but he kept looking to the east.The horse ran very happily.At this time, the wind gradually increased.The little cloud turned into a pile of white clouds, thicker and bigger, and gradually filled the sky.It was snowing lightly, and suddenly, goose feathers and heavy snow fell one after another.The wind is howling, and the blizzard is coming.In an instant, the dark sky and the flying snow mingled together, the universe became chaotic, and everything else disappeared... "Ah, sir!" cried the coachman, "bad: a snowstorm is coming!" I looked out from the hood: it was pitch black.But the whistling of the wind was heard.The wind howled and raged, as if it had turned into a living creature with spirituality.Savory and I were covered in snow.The horses went step by step, and soon stopped still. "Why don't you leave?" I asked the coachman impatiently. "How do I get there?" He replied, jumping off the platform, "I don't know where to go. The road was gone, and it was dark all around. " I scold him.Saverich defended him. "You don't listen to advice!" he said angrily. "It would be nice to turn around and go back to the inn, drink a cup of tea, sleep until dawn, the storm is over, and calm down again." Let's get on the road. What's the rush now? Are you in a hurry to have a wedding?" Saweirich was right, there was nothing he could do now.The snow was falling so hard that the sledges looked like heaps all around.The horse stood with its head drooping, shivering from the cold from time to time.The coachman walked around the horses, adjusting the harness because there was nothing to do.Saverich was whining.I looked around, hoping to find even the slightest sign of a house or a road.However, I saw the wind and snow all over the sky, and I couldn't tell anything else... Suddenly, I found a black spot. "Hey, coachman!" I cried. "Look! There's a black spot over there. What's it?" The coachman watched intently. "God knows! Master!" he said, taking his seat. "The car is not like a car, and the tree is not like a tree. It looks like it's still moving! It's probably a wolf, or it's a man." I told him to drive the sled towards the unknown thing, and that thing moved towards us.After two minutes we met, but it turned out to be one person. "Hello, fellow!" cried the coachman to him, "tell me, where is the road?" "The road is here, and the place where I'm standing is a solid road." The passer-by replied, "Why do you ask this?" "Listen to me, man!" I said to him. "Do you know this area? Can you show me a place to stay?" "I know the place well," replied the passer-by, "thank God! We've ridden and walked all over the country in every direction. Well! Look at the weather, no wonder you're lost. Better stop here and wait, maybe a blizzard." When the meeting stops, the sky will open. At that time, look at the stars in the sky, and we can go on our way." He looked calm, which emboldened me.I am determined to resign myself to fate, so why not just stay overnight on this grassland.At this time, the passer-by suddenly jumped onto the cab and said to the coachman, "All right! God bless! The village is nearby. Turn right, and let's go!" "Why do you turn right?" the coachman asked disapprovingly, "Did you see the road? The horse belongs to someone else, but the suitcase does not belong to you. Go all the way! That's all." I think the driver is right.I said, "Really, why do you think the village is nearby?" "Because the wind is blowing from that side," replied the passer-by, "I smell smoke, which means that the village is near." I was amazed by his quick-wittedness and keen sense of smell.I told the coachman to drive over.The horses struggled to move forward in the deep snow.The sled moved slowly, sometimes bumped into snowdrifts, sometimes got stuck in potholes, and bumped from left to right, just like a small boat sailing on rough seas.Saverich sighed and touched my waist from time to time.I lowered the curtain, wrapped my fur coat tightly, and closed my eyes to take a nap.Everyone doesn't speak. The wind howled and the sled swayed slowly, as if hypnotizing me. I had a dream.I will never forget this dream as long as I refer to it with the strange episodes of my life, which to this day seem to me to be an omen.Forgive me, the reader, for, as a general rule of thumb, one is always a little superstitious, though all try to despise superstitious prejudices as much as possible. At that time, my mind and feelings were still in such an inexplicable state, reality was hidden, hallucinations were frequent, and the two were both bright and dark, and they were mixed together.I clearly felt that the blizzard hadn't stopped, and we were running wildly on the snowy field... But I suddenly saw a gate, and we drove into this manor.The first thought that popped into my mind was that I was afraid that my father would be angry, that he would blame me for having to return to the shelter of my parents this time, and that he would blame me for deliberately ignoring his teachings.Feeling uneasy, I jumped off the sled and looked up: my mother was standing on the steps to meet me, with a sad face. "Easy," she said to me, "your father is dying and wants to say goodbye to you." Terrified, I followed her into the bedroom.The room was very dark, and there were quite a few people standing by the bed, all with sad faces.I moved lightly to the bed.Mother opened the curtain and said: "Andrei Petrovich! Here comes Petrusha. When he heard that you were sick, he turned around and drove back. Give him your blessing!" I knelt down and opened my eyes wide. looking at the patient.what happened? ... My father was not on the bed, but a man with a black beard was lying on the bed, and he looked at me with a smile on his face.I couldn't figure it out, so I turned to my mother and asked, "What's the matter? He's not your father? How can I ask this farmer to bless me?" "It's the same, Petrusha!" replied my mother, "He is your father in marriage." , kiss his hand! Let him bless you..."I won't do it.At this time, the man jumped up from the bed, pulled out an ax from behind, and slashed in all directions.I want to run away...but I can't.The room was full of dead bodies. I bumped into corpses and slid past pools of blood... The scary man called me caressingly, and said, "Don't be afraid, come here! Let me bless you ..." I was terrified, confused... and suddenly I woke up with a start.The horse stopped, and Saverich grabbed my hand and said, "Get off, sir! Here we are." "Where are you?" I asked, wiping my eyes with my hand. "At the inn. God bless! We almost ran into the yard fence. Get out of the car, sir!Come down and warm up. " I got off the sled.The blizzard is still going on, but its momentum has diminished.It was pitch black, and I couldn't see my fingers.The shopkeeper greeted us at the gate, held up a lantern, and led me into the main room.The house is small, but very clean, and a sprig of pine is lit.On the wall hung a long gun and a tall Cossack fur hat. The owner of the store is a Yaik Cossack, who looks to be in his sixties, looks good, and is in good health.Saverich came in after him with a food box in his hand, and he brought a fire to make tea.I have never wanted tea as much as I do now.The owner of the shop went out to make arrangements. "Where's the guide?" I asked Saverich. "Here, my lord!" said a voice from over my head.I looked up, only to see a tall bunk with a big black beard and two twinkling eyes. "What, man, are you freezing?" "How can our house not be damaged by the cold? We only wear a coarse woolen jacket! We still have a sheepskin jacket, but it's a sin to hide the truth, so I gave it to the hotel owner last night. I thought it wasn't too cold." At this time, the owner of the shop came in, holding a steaming samovar.I invite the guide to have a cup of tea too.The man got off the bunk.I think his appearance is very good: he is about forty years old, of medium build, lean, with broad shoulders, a big black beard with a few white strands in the middle, and a pair of big eyes that are flexible and piercing.The expression on his face was indeed very pleasant to look at, but also a little sly.His hair was shaved in a circle, and he wore a duffel jacket and loose Tatar knickerbockers.I handed him a cup of tea, and he took a sip, frowning. "My lord! Please do a good deed and order a glass of wine! Our Cossacks are not used to drinking tea." I am happy to accommodate his request.The innkeeper took a magnum and a mug from a cupboard, went up to him, and stared into his face: "Hey!" said the shopkeeper, "you've come to us again! Where are you from?" The guide winked meaningfully and replied with a jingle: "Flying into the vegetable garden, pecking at the hemp seeds, my mother-in-law threw a small stone-and missed it. Come on! How are your people?" "What about our people?" the shopkeeper replied, also using secret language that he didn't want outsiders to know: "I want to ring the vesper bell, but the priest's wife refuses to agree, the priest goes to visit, and the kid visits the grave." "Stop it, sir!" said my vagabond. "When it's going to rain, you don't have to worry about having fungus, as long as there are fungus, you don't have to worry about having no basket. And for now (he winks again), the ax must be hidden behind your back." Hey! For the ranger is on patrol. My lord! To your health, cheers!" With these words he raised his glass, made the sign of the sign of the cross, and drank it down. Then he bowed to me and climbed onto the high bunk. At the time, I didn't understand the bandit cut at all, but then I figured out that they were talking about the Jacques army, which had just put down the 1772 riot.Saverich listened to their conversation with a look of contempt on his face.Sometimes he looked at the innkeeper and sometimes at the guide, feeling suspicious and apprehensive.The inn, or, as the locals call it, the big car shop, was situated in the middle of the prairie, far from any village, and looked like a bandit's den.However, we have no choice.Continue on your way, don't even think about it.I was amused to see Saverich's frightened look.At this time, I was going to sleep, so I lay down on the big bench.Saverich decided to climb on top of the stove and set up shop.The owner sleeps on the floor.Before long, the whole little house was snoring.I too slept like a dead man. Waking up the next morning was already exhausting.I saw that the wind and snow had stopped.sunny.The endless snow field is dazzlingly white.The horse is harnessed.I settled the bill with the host, who demanded so little that Saverich made no objection, did not haggle as usual, and all doubts of last night were cleared from his mind.I called the guide, thanked him for his help, and told Savellich to give him half a ruble for the drink. Savellich frowned. "Half a ruble for the drink!" he said. "What for? For the fact that he took you to the inn? Master, do whatever you want, we don't have much money anyway. If you give someone a drink, that's fine." ! Soon I'll be hungry." It is inconvenient for me to argue with Saverich.I have promised him that all the money will be under his control.I feel guilty for not being able to thank this man, if not for saving my life, then at least for getting me out of it. "Alright!" I said coldly, "If you don't give him money for the drink, then give him a piece of my clothes. He is too thin. Give him that rabbit fur coat." "Don't do anything wrong! Master Pyotr Andreitch!" said Savrich. "What's the use of your rabbit coat? The dog will drink it for wine when it comes to a tavern." "Old man! Don't worry about whether I will drink it in exchange for wine," said my vagabond. "His young master took off his fur coat and gave it to me. This is his master's kindness. You are a slave." Yes, you should obey your orders and don't talk too much." "You godless brigand!" Savellige said to him vehemently, "you saw the young master was young and ignorant, and deceived him, so you set out to rob him! What do you want the young master's coat for? You broad-shouldered I still can't fit into this little jacket!" "Please don't be so brave," I said to my chaperone, "go get the jacket!" "By God!" sighed my Savelitch, "the rabbit-skin coat is as good as new! It would be better for someone else than this poor drunkard." However, the rabbit fur jacket was brought.The man immediately took it and tried to wear it.Indeed, I think the jacket is too small for him to wear.However, he fiddled with it anyway, and finally put it on, but the seams were stretched open by him one by one.Hearing the bang bang bang of the moldings, Saverich almost cried.The hobo was very happy with my gift.He kept me on the sleigh, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, my lord! You have done a good deed, and God will reward you. Our family will never forget your kindness." He walked by , I continued on my way, ignoring Saverich's sulking.Soon I forgot about the snowstorm last night, the guide and the rabbit fur jacket. When I arrived in Orenburg, I went straight to the general.I saw a tall man, he was old, a little stooped, and his long hair was all white.He wore an old-fashioned faded military uniform, reminiscent of the soldiers of Anna Ivanovna's time.He spoke with a heavy German accent.I handed him the letter written by my father face to face.Seeing my father's name, he shot me a quick glance. "My God!" he said, "it seems not so long ago that Andrey Petrovich was your age! And now, you see, he has a son of his age. Time flies!" Open the letter, read it in a low voice, and express emotion at the same time.Dear Mr. Andrei Karlovich, Mr. Hope... What kind of courtesy is this?Well!He's not ashamed to do that!Of course, strict military discipline is the first priority.However, you don't have to do this when you write to your old colleagues!The grown-ups will never forget... Mmm! ...I think that Marshal ×× of the Ming Dynasty went to war...and Karalinka...Oh!He actually still remembers our nonsense that day!I have one thing to ask... I entrust my son to your shelter... um! ... Please hold my son tightly in the hedgehog glove... What is a hedgehog glove?This seems to be a Russian saying.What does it mean to hold the hedgehog glove tightly? "He turned to me and asked again. "It means," I answered, trying to appear as honest as possible, "to be gentle, not too harsh, and to let him go free, which is to hold the hedgehog in the glove." "嗯！我懂了……别让他自由……不！看起来，刺猬手套不是你说的那个意思……他的身分证随函附上……身分证在哪儿？哦！已经登记入谢明诺夫团……好！好！一切照办。请允许我不拘官职尊卑以一个老同事、老朋友的身份拥抱你……啊！最后这才想开了……等等，等等……好了！亲爱的！"他说，读完信，把身分证搁在一边。"一切照办。就把你调到××团去当军官，别耽识时间，明日你就去白山炮台，在那儿你在米龙诺夫上尉手下服役，他是个诚实的好人。你要认真服务，学会严守纪律。在奥伦堡你没有事情好干，懒散对青年人没有好处。但是，今日请你在我家吃饭。" "我可越来越不轻松了！"我心下琢磨，"我在娘胎里就登记成为近卫军中士，这又有什么用？它把我弄到什么地步了？进××团，去吉尔吉斯-哈萨克大草原的边界上荒凉的要塞……"我在安德列·卡尔洛维奇家里跟他和他的老副官三个人一道吃了顿午饭。他的餐桌上也体现了德国人节俭的作风。我想，他不想在他单身的餐桌旁经常看到我这个多余的角色，这便是他赶忙派我去边防军的部分原因吧！第二天我向将军道别，便动身去那个我将要服役的地方了。 第三章要塞 我们驻扎在碉堡， 喝的是清水，吃的是面包； 倘若敌人来偷馅饼吃， 我们大摆酒宴，决不告饶， 包管装满霰弹轰它几炮。 士兵之歌 他们是过时的人物啦！Master! 《绔裤少年》 白山炮台距离奥伦堡四十俄里。一条道路沿着雅伊克河陡峻的河岸伸延过去。河水还没有封冻，沉沉的波浪在白雪皑皑的两岸之间忧郁地汹涌，显得特别黑。河那边是一望无际的吉尔吉斯草原。我思绪万端，心境抑郁。驻防军的生活对我很少有吸引力。我尽力去想象我的上司，米龙诺夫上尉该是个什么模样，结果认定他该是个严厉的、脾气大的老头，除了自己的公务，别的啥也不知道，可能为了鸡毛蒜皮的小事会罚我关禁闭，只让我啃面包喝生水。这时，天色暗下来。 我们行车相当快速。 "到要塞还远吗？"我问车夫。 "不远了，"他回答，"瞧！已经望得见了。" 我四下瞭望，想要发现森严的碉堡、塔楼和垛墙。但是，除了圆木头的栅栏围住的大村子以外，别的什么也没看见。路的一边有三四个积雪覆盖一半的干草垛，另一边是歪向一旁的一架风车，几叶树皮车翼懒洋洋地挂在上头。 "要塞在哪儿？"我惊诧地问。 "那不是！"车夫回答，指着一个小村子。说这话的当口，我们驶进了村子。我一看，门口摆了一尊生铁铸成的老炮；街道狭小，弯弯曲曲；房舍低矮，大都盖的干草。我吩咐车夫开到要塞司令那里，一分钟以后，雪橇在一栋木头房子跟前停下，这房子建在高地上，旁边是一座木头教堂。 没有人出来迎接我。我走进穿堂，推开门进了前厅。一个老弱残兵坐在桌子上，正给油绿军装的袖肘上打一块蓝补丁。我要他去通报说我来了。 "请进吧！少爷！"残废兵回答，"我们的人在家。"我走进一间陈设老派的干干净净的房间。屋角上是放器皿的大柜；墙上挂了装有镜框的军官证书；证书旁边还点缀了几张版画："攻克吉斯特林"、"攻克奥恰可夫"，还有"挑选新娘"、"老鼠葬猫"。窗前一位老太太，穿一件棉坎肩，扎一条头巾。她在缠线团，线圈子由一个穿军服的独眼龙老头子伸开两手绷着。 "您有何吩咐，少爷？"她问我，继续她手里的作业。我回答，我是来当差的，按照规矩前来晋谒上尉先生。说话中间，我转向那位独眼老人，以为他必定是要塞司令了。但老太太打断了我背熟了的官腔。 "伊凡·库兹米奇不在家，"她说，"他到盖拉西姆神父家做客去了。但不要紧，少爷！我就是他老伴。承您关照和看得起，请坐！少爷！"她叫来一个丫头，吩咐她去把军曹叫来。 那个老头翻起一只眼睛好奇地瞅着我。 "斗胆请问，"他说，"您先生是在哪一团服役来着？"我满足了他的好奇心。 "斗胆请问，"他又问，"您先生为何从近卫军调到驻防军？"我回答说，这是上峰的意志。 "由此观之，兴许是做了对于一个近卫军军官来说不相称的事情吧！"这个打破砂锅问到底的老头子一个劲地问。 "得了，别乱嚼舌头了！"上尉夫人对他说，"你看，这个年青人旅途疲倦了，他哪有功夫听你唠叨……（手伸直……）而你，我亲爱的！"她转向我说："调你到我们这荒凉地方，别伤心吧！你不是头一名，也不是末一名。学会忍耐，包你喜爱。希瓦卜林，亚历克赛·伊凡内奇调到这儿已经是第五个年头了，因为他杀了人。天晓得，他怎么犯了那样大的罪！你看他跟一个中尉跑到城外，都带了剑。两个人便拔剑杀将起来。亚历克赛·伊凡内奇一剑刺过去，一下把中尉杀了，在场的还有两个证人哩！你说该怎么办？并没有生来就会犯罪的坏人哩！" 正在这时，军曹进来，他是个年轻的身材好看的哥萨克。"马克西梅奇！"上尉夫人吩咐他说，"给这位军官先生找一套房子，要干净点的。" "是！华西里莎·叶戈洛夫娜！"军曹回答，"把这位先生安排到伊凡·巴列热耶夫家，您看行不行？" "扯淡！马克西梅奇！"上尉夫人说，"伊凡·巴列热耶夫家里太挤了。他还是我家教亲哩！并且他不会忘记我们是他的上司。你就领这位军官先生……请问您的名字和父名，少爷！彼得·安德列伊奇？领彼得·安德列伊奇上谢明·库佐夫家去。他是个骗子，放马到我菜园子里。得了！马克西梅奇，一切都顺当吗？" "谢天谢地！一切都平安无事。"哥萨克回答，"只有伍长普拉霍罗夫在澡堂子里跟乌斯季尼娅·涅古琳娜打架，为了争一盆热水。" "伊凡·伊格拉季奇！"上尉夫人对独眼老头说，"请你去调查一下普拉霍罗夫跟乌斯季尼娅的纠纷，看看谁在理，谁有错。但两人都要惩罚一下。得了！马克西梅奇，去吧！彼得·安德列伊奇！马克西梅奇就领你到你的住宅去。" 我告辞。军曹把我带到一家农舍，在高峻的河岸上要塞的尽头。房屋的一半住谢明·库佐夫一家，另一半归我。这原是一间整洁的正房，间隔成两间。沙威里奇便动手收拾。我从小窗前朝外看。眼前是一派愁人的草原，一眼望不到边。斜对过是几间小茅屋。街上有几只鸡走来走去。一个老太婆，手提一只木盆，正在唤猪，猪猡咿咿呜呜地蠢叫，似乎意在友好地回话。我落到了这步田地，命中注定我要在此度过青春的年华！我很难过，离开小窗，往床上一躺，不想吃晚饭了，懒得听沙威里奇的慰抚。他一个劲地苦劝："上帝保佑！啥也不吃！要是太太知道孩子病倒了，该会说些什么呢？" 第二天早上我刚要动手穿衣，房门推开，一个年轻军官走进来。他个儿不大，脸色黝黑，很不好看，但异常活泼。 "请原谅，"他用法语说，"我不拘常礼径自来拜访您了。昨天我就听说老兄光临。我想终于能见到一个象个人样的人了。我耐不住了，渴望见到您。您在这儿再住一些时候，一定会明白这一点的。"我猜到了此人就是因决斗从近卫军除名的那个军官。我跟他立即熟识起来。希瓦卜林为人很不蠢。他的谈吐很尖刻，也有趣。他绘声绘影给我描述了要塞司令一家、与他交往的人物以及我命中注定的这个环境。我开心地笑了。这时，那个昨天在司令的前厅缝补衣服的残废兵进来了，他奉华西里莎·叶戈洛夫娜之命前来请我去吃午饭。希瓦卜林便自告奋勇陪我同去。 走到要塞司令的房子跟前的时候，我们看到小校场上集合了约莫二十来个老弱残兵，扛着长长的弯刀，戴着三角帽。他们排成纵队。队前站着司令。他是个高个子老头，精神抖擞，戴顶小帽，身穿棉布长袍。看见我们来了，他便走过来，对我说了几句亲切的话，又继续指挥去了。我们停住脚看他们操练。但司令请我们去华西里莎·叶戈洛夫娜那儿，答应自己随后就到。"这儿，"他补充说，"没有什么好看的。" 华西里莎·叶戈洛夫娜非常纯朴和愉快地接待我们。对待我好似跟我老早就相识了一样。那个残废兵和巴拉莎在摆桌子。 "我的伊凡·库兹米奇今日干吗操练个没完没了？"上尉夫人说："巴拉莎！去叫老爷吃饭。哦！玛莎在那儿？" 这时，走进来一位十八岁的姑娘，圆圆的脸，两颊绯红，淡褐色的头发光洁地直梳到耳根，耳朵通红。乍一看，我并不喜欢她。因为我是抱着成见看她的。希瓦卜林曾经对我说过她的坏话，把这位上尉的女儿玛莎描绘成一个蠢姑娘。玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜在屋角坐下，动手就做针线活。这时，菜汤端上来了。华西里莎·叶戈洛夫娜见丈夫还不来，再次派巴拉莎去叫。 "告诉老爷，客在等他，汤要冷了。上帝慈悲，操练的事又跑不掉，往后够他喊叫的。" 上尉很快就来了，由那个独眼龙老头儿陪同。 "这是怎么搞的？"他老伴对他说，"菜早就上了，叫你又不来。" "你听我说，华西里莎·叶戈洛夫娜！"伊凡·库兹米奇回答，"我公务繁忙，在训练士兵哩！" "唉，得了！"上尉夫人强嘴说，"训练士兵，不过是一句话罢了。他们学不到怎样当差，你也明知毫无好处。还不如坐在家里祷告上帝，那要好得多了。亲爱的客人们，请吃饭吧！" 我们在桌旁就座。华西里莎·叶戈洛夫娜没有一分钟闭嘴。她向我提出一大堆问题：我父母是谁？他们还健在吗？他们住在那儿？家产有几多？一听到我的父亲有三百个农奴就嘟嚷开了： "那还了得！"她说，"世上真有阔人呀，少爷！可我们只有一个农奴巴拉莎丫头。谢天谢地！好歹凑合着过下去。只有一件事叫人不放心。玛莎，这个丫头该出嫁了，但有什么嫁妆呢？一把梳子、一把笤帚，还有一枚三戈比的铜板（上帝饶恕我吧！），只够进澡堂子洗个澡。倘若碰了个好人，倒也罢了。不然，只得乖乖地坐着做个老姑娘了。" 我向玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜瞥了一眼，她满脸通红，甚至眼泪也涌出来掉在盘子里了。我不由得可怜她，于是赶忙把话头岔开。 "我听说，"我很不适宜地说，"巴什基尔人要来进攻你们的要塞哩！" "你听谁说的，少爷？"伊凡·库兹米奇问。 "奥伦堡有人对我这样说过。"我回答。 "不值一提！"司令说，"我们这儿早就听不到谣言了。巴什基尔人吓破了胆，吉尔吉斯人也受了惩罚。别担心，他们不敢来侵犯。如果胆敢来侵犯，老子就给他们一顿教训，叫他们十年也甭想动一动。" "而您不害怕吗？"我转过脸对上尉夫人说，"住在要塞里头，要经受这么大的危险！" "习惯了，我的少爷！"她回答，"二十年前，把我们从团部调来这儿。那个时候，真不得了呀！对那些邪教徒，我怕得要死！只要一看到猞猁皮帽子，只要一听到他们吆喝，我就吓得心都要跳出来了，信不信由你，亲爱的！可现在嘛，已经习惯了，要是有人报告我们说，强盗就在要塞附近跑马，那我连身子也不会动一下。" "华西里莎·叶戈洛夫娜是一位十分勇敢的太太，"希瓦卜林郑重其事地插话，"这一点，伊凡·库兹米奇可以作证。""对！！你听我说，"伊凡·库兹米奇说，"老太太并非胆小怕事的妇人。" "玛利亚·伊凡诺夫娜呢？"我问，"也跟您一样勇敢吗？" "玛莎勇敢吗？"她母亲回答，"不！玛莎胆子小。直到现在她还怕放炮。一听到，就浑身打战。两年前，我命名日那天，伊凡·库兹米奇忽然异想天开，要放几下我们的大炮。玛莎，我这宝贝儿，差点给吓死了。从那以后，我们再也不放那倒霉的大炮了。" 吃完饭我们从餐桌旁站起身。上尉和上尉夫人睡午觉去了。我便上希瓦卜林那儿，跟他消磨一个晚上。